title: High-dimensional analysis of human CD8(+) T cell phenotype, function, and antigen specificity.
abstract: Antigen-specific T cells are critical initiators and orchestrators of the adaptive immune response. Categorizing antigen-specific T cell subsets is not a simple task given the diversity of these cells and the large number of parameters that can be considered. Here, we focus on human CD8(+) T cells and discuss the utility of high-dimensional mass cytometric analysis techniques for the concurrent identification and characterization of antigen-specific T cells involved in immunological homeostasis and disease. We first provide an overview of previously identified T cell subsets. We then discuss the segregation of antigen-specific T cells based on protein expression through surface and/or intracellular staining, on functional capacity through measurement expression of cytokines or other inducible markers, and on the antigen-specificity of the cell assessed using peptide-major histocompatibility complex multimers. High-dimensional mass cytometry enables a deeper and more integrated view of all three aspects of antigen-specific T cell diversity than do traditional techniques. Use of mass cytometry for precise measurement of the status of antigen-specific immune responses should result in better prediction of vaccine efficacy and disease outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science Technology and Research (A-STAR), Singapore, 138648, Republic of Singapore, evan_newell@immunol.a-star.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Evan W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: Wenyu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D016207:Cytokines